A Mutant Collector Quest

My gaze shifts to the myriad paths surrounding me, especially the twenty whose ends I can clearly see.

This choice feels monumental, perhaps my last for now, as I have always kept in mind that time back home hasn't stopped. The Ancient One's ability to speak to me confirms that much. For all I know, the people back home could be frantic, searching for me, unaware of where—or when—I have gone. However, the Ancient One had previously mentioned that I couldn't stay in one place for more than an Earth day, so I doubt that more than a few days have passed.

Just as I am about to ask the Ancient One how much time has elapsed, my attention is drawn to a particular path.

A crimson path. It looks as though it is made of fire itself, with streaks of black pulsing like embers beneath its surface. "I should try one of the more dangerous-looking ones, especially since this might be my last path for now," I muse aloud, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation.

"I am choosing this one, Teacher," I confirm as I begin flying towards it, the heat from the path almost tangible even from a distance.

[Path: 5 (Roll: 94/100) Fiery Crimson: A deep, fiery red path, with hidden streaks of black that pulse like embers.]

The Ancient One remains silent, and her lack of response doesn't bode well. Still, I am determined not to waver. I remind myself why she is allowing me to make this decision—this is my path, my choice. If I start second-guessing myself now, I might lack the resolve needed to see it through. Perhaps this test of will is as important as the path itself.

Or, I think with a faint smirk, maybe she is just messing with me, letting me draw my own life metaphors in these diverging paths where none exist in reality.

These musings accompany me as I glide over the fiery road. The path's aura is oppressive, and the strange black flames hidden within seem to flicker with malice. It is not a welcoming sight. I briefly entertain the idea of retreating to a gentler path, like the one leading to Alfheim. Surely, Aelsa wouldn't mind my company again.

But before doubt can take root, I reach the end of the crimson path. In front of me stands a crack in space itself, the fiery road stopping abruptly at its jagged edge.

Taking another steadying breath, I mentally hype myself: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. With a final step, I plunge into the crack.

Heat. Intense, searing heat strikes my skin, threatening to peel it away. It feels as if my face might melt under the scorching assault. My eyes snap open, and to my surprise, I find myself standing on solid ground, made up of jagged black rocks and coarse black sand. The ground burns against my feet even through my shoes, the unexpected heat making me instinctively lift one foot, then the other, in a futile attempt to find relief.

"Ugh, it also smells like rotten eggs," I mutter, wrinkling my nose. The intense odour of sulfur—or more precisely, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)—assaults my senses. I instantly recalls its properties from my chemistry knowledge: a colourless, highly flammable gas with a signature foul stench.

Suppressing the discomfort, I force myself to focus, ignoring both the smell and the intense, oppressive heat. Which is not like the dry warmth of the sun—it's the searing, stifling kind of heat that screams fire.

I glance around, taking in my surroundings. I am in a deep, narrow valley, flanked by towering black mountain ranges on either side. Overhead, the sky is choked with dark, ominous clouds of billowing smog that block out any hint of light.

"Where the hell am I?" I ask aloud, my voice echoing faintly against the jagged cliffs.

Before I can piece together any answers, a sound ahead draws my attention.

GRRRRRRHHHH…

A low, guttural growl rumbles through the valley, carrying an unmistakable air of menace. My sharp eyes focus on the source of the sound, and my breath catches.

Some distance away, the very ground is burning—flames licking at the scorched surface as if the earth itself were alive with fire. From the darkness beyond, two humanoid figures step into view.

The one in front is a bipedal creature, vaguely human-like in form, but that's where the similarities end. Its skin is as dark as the void, absorbing what little light manages to filter through the haze. Its glowing red eyes cutting through the darkness and atop its head are two sharp, menacing horns that curve forward slightly.

The second creature follows close behind, sharing the same unnaturally dark skin and glowing eyes, but lacking the horns. Its bald head gleams faintly under the eerie, fiery light.

"Have I really ended up in Hell?" I whisper, staring at their clawed hands and the savage expressions twisting their faces. They keep advancing towards me, their growls deepening into a cacophony of snarls.

GRRRRRRHHHH…

Their growls build to a crescendo as they abruptly charge, hands low, teeth bared like rabid animals.

"Alright, that's far enough," I say, thrusting my hand forward. Two shimmering Psionic Forcefields springs into existence, encasing each creature in a translucent bubble and lifting them effortlessly off the ground.

GRRRRRAAAHHHHHHHH!

They thrash violently against the invisible barriers, banging against the walls of their confinement with relentless fury. I bring them closer, observing them curiously.

"Hmmm, they definitely fit the classic description of demons," I muse, noting their powerful, muscular physiques. Their lower halves are covered in coarse fur, though I quickly dismiss any desire to examine their anatomy in greater detail, especially their reproductive organs.

BAM! BAM!

The repeated impacts on the forcefield reverberate with incredible force, almost rivaling the strength of the vampires I have encountered before. I frown slightly, focusing on the creatures.

"Telepathy's a no-go too, huh?" I mutter, attempting to glean information from their minds, only to find my Telepathy skimming harmlessly over their consciousness.

"I don't think they can talk either. Doesn't seem like they have much going on upstairs too. Probably primitive intelligence at best," I conclude, watching as they continue to snarl and growl, their red eyes glowing with unbridled rage.

Through my Clairvoyance, I sense an ominous, dark energy radiating from them. My Mana Sight confirms it—a miasma of dark mana saturates not only the creatures but the very atmosphere around us.

"Alright, let's test some theories," I say, lowering one of the demons to the ground. "You are guinea pig number one." I crack my knuckles, ready to measure its strength firsthand.

---

A short while later, I stand over two piles of smouldering ash.

"Well, that confirms it," I mutter, with a wry smile. "They are lesser demons." My observations match my meta-knowledge of these creatures.

I had tested every one of my abilities on them, it was not just to blow off some steam but to prepare for whatever this hellish realm might throw at me. Their physical strength was comparable to non-augmented vampires I fought off in the ruins, and their healing capabilities were equally formidable. Neither blunt trauma nor slashing damage had much effect, and weapons like swords and guns proved equally ineffective against their unnervingly resilient—perhaps undead—bodies.

Even their supposed weak points, like the face, eyes, and lower half, failed to yield results. No matter how severely damaged, they regenerated slowly but surely, dark mana from the surrounding environment rushing towards them to fuel their recovery. My Mana Sight confirmed this ominous process, the energy feeding their bodies like a lifeline.

Electricity and fire had some impact, though it was marginal. Nothing, however, came close to the devastating effectiveness of my Holy Fire. MyPhoenix Flames served as a solid secondary option, but the light element itself seemed to repel and harm them. My Angelic Aura also had a clear effect, pushing them back as though it offended their very existence.

Regrettably, my Temporal Powers didn't work on them. First the vampires, and now these demons—my Temporal Looping seems ineffective against undead beings. Or could this be the result of magical interference? I will need to ask my teacher. Perhaps she can shed some light on the matter.

"Time to get out of this place," I say, glancing around. The deep valley has provided sufficient cover for my experiments, but I have learned all I can here. My Astral Body has also adjusted to the ambient temperature, so the oppressive heat no longer bothers me as much—though I doubt I will ever get used to this pervasive stench of sulphur.

Hovering above the searing ground, I decide against taking to the skies. Instead, I activate Invisibility and cautiously make my way across the valley. There might be even more dangerous demonic predators lurking in the skies. Until I have more data to disprove that assumption, I would rather err on the side of caution.

As I float cautiously above the scorched ground, I keep a vigilant eye on my surroundings. Random patches of fire ignite sporadically across the barren, blackened terrain, the air thick with heat and the acrid stench of sulphur.

Minutes later, the valley finally opens up before me, and what I see makes me gasp aloud, the ominous scene before me striking a chord of dread.

The ground was a strange, uneven expanse of blackish rock that seemed almost alien in nature. Cutting through this terrain was a river—not of water, but of molten lava, glowing a fierce red and radiating intense heat. The River of Lava kept stretching endlessly towards the horizon, its fiery veins radiating an intense, otherworldly light.

Turning back, I trace the river's path as far as I could, but its origin was obscured, seemingly pouring forth from somewhere behind a towering black mountain.

Beside the flowing lava stood tall, dark structures that resembled artificial columns, each towering five to six stories high. Atop each column burned a large, unrelenting flame. They weren't isolated either; these eerie constructs were scattered across the expanse, they stretched as far as I could see, dotting the landscape alongside the lava's flow.

SSSKKRRREEEKK!!

The piercing screech made me head snap upward. Above, strange winged creatures circled in the turbulent sky. They resembled a grotesque blend of devils and western dragons, their leathery wings and spiked tails illuminated by the fiery red glow of the overcast sky. The clouds above churned in shades of black and crimson, an unsettling backdrop to the nightmarish scene.